Yesterday evening we set an alarm for 4:30AM so we could be off at first light. We were tired from the day, and days prior. Early to bed and early to rise sounded good. Although we were the third boat in Cape May harbor anchorage, by sun down there were more than seemed like there should be. The wind and current interaction was predictable, and we only had one boat that was really closer than we liked. Our concern is what it is all day, every day. Weather. The predicted thunderstorms did arrive, around 10PM, and brought heavy rain and intense SW wind. We had life jackets on and were monitoring our GPS position to confirm the anchor was holding. Tidal range is relatively high there (over 5ft, compared to the 2-3ft we’d been seeing most places) …and it was high tide. We were happy to see Daphne holding steady, but then heard multiple horn blasts. Someone was dragging anchor. A glance out our port window revealed a large motorsailer bearing down in the narrow space between our boat and the shoreline. We leapt into action, putting out fenders, hoping our anchor would hold, and that there’s would not grab and send their boat into us. They did finally come to a stop just aft of us. Shortly afterwards the heavy wind and hammering rain calmed, and we could breathe again. Fortunately we were only in 15ft of water, close to shore, in front of an active Coast Guard training facility. We did not manage to leave this morning at first light.
Vessel after reanchoring at 430AM.
Ah the joys of an overcrowded anchorage! We remember them well. Enjoying your blog.